EP3009895B1 - Musical or chiming watch provided with a sound-projecting arrangement - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a musical watch or bell, which is provided with an acoustic radiation arrangement. The watch comprises a watch case, which is constituted at least of a middle and a bottom removably attached to the middle part, and at least one mirror for closing said box. A clockwork movement with a musical mechanism or ringing mechanism can be arranged in a space of the watch case. The acoustic radiation arrangement is adapted in the watch case.

In a watch, a striking mechanism may be provided for generating sound or music. To do this, the timbre of the bell watch or the keyboard of the musical watch are generally arranged in the watch case. Thus the vibrations of the timbre or the keyboard blades are transmitted to the different parts of dressing. These pieces of clothing are for example the middle part, the bezel, the ice and the bottom of the watch case. These large pieces of clothing begin to radiate sound in the air under the effect of transmitted vibrations. When a sound is produced either by a stamp struck by a hammer or by one or more blades of the vibrating keyboard, these pieces of clothing are able to radiate the sound produced in the air.

As part or additional element of dressing, it can still be used one or more membranes arranged in the watch case. These membranes are configured in such a way as to improve the acoustic level of the sound or music generated. Other parts of the watch can also be adapted for good sound radiation including low frequency. However, it is difficult to optimize the acoustic radiation from the bottom of the watch case, which often remains a piece of clothing almost inactive acoustically.

It should be noted that, when the watch is worn on the wrist of a user, the vibration of the bottom surface of the bottom of the watch case is dampened on contact with the wrist. In this case, the only solution for creating a sound or music coming out of the bottom side of the watch case is to use side openings. The radiation exiting the lateral openings in the bottom remains low, however, because several parts surrounding said openings are rigid. In addition, in the case of a bottom provided with an ice for the vision of the movement from below, dirt can penetrate through the openings of the bottom and thus be deposited on the inner surface of the bottom ice. A lack of waterproofness also remains with such a bottom provided with ice. This is a disadvantage.

In a musical watch or bell, the acoustic output, based on the complex vibro-acoustic transduction of the trim pieces, is generally low. To improve and increase the acoustic level perceived by the user of the bell or musical watch, the material, geometry and boundary conditions of the trim pieces must be taken into account. The configurations of these pieces of clothing are also dependent on the aesthetics of the watch and operating constraints, which may limit the possibilities of adaptation.

The frequency content of the sound of a bell or musical watch must be rich in a frequency range between 1 kHz and 6 kHz. Traditional trim parts do not allow effective radiation in this frequency band. As described above to further improve the vibro-acoustic performance of the striking mechanism, one or more membranes can be placed in the watch case. The membranes can be easily sized and configured for effective radiation of the generated note (s) in the watch case. The frequencies of the generated notes must be close to the natural modes of vibration of the membranes so that they come into resonance.

The constraints relating to the arrangement of acoustic membranes as a covering part, are generally in contrast with the rules of mechanical construction to ensure the seal, as well as the mechanical strength of the watch to shocks and significant external pressures. The normally perforated bottom of the bell or musical watch still imposes that the connection between the membrane (s) and the rest of the movement remains watertight. In addition, a membrane, which has a stiffness too low, can not guarantee sufficient resistance to external pressure without the risk of damaging the movement, which is a drawback. Requirement FR2777095 discloses a striking watch, which is provided with an acoustic radiation arrangement, the watch comprising a watch case consisting of at least one middle and one bottom and an ice for closing said box, the acoustic radiation arrangement comprising a support piece, the bezel, fixed between the middle and the ice, the bottom comprising a plurality of lateral openings, and a cavity being defined between the support and connection piece and the lateral openings. But in this document the bottom is not fixed in a removable manner and the support piece is not attached to the bottom. The invention therefore aims to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art mentioned above by providing a musical watch or bell, which is provided with an acoustic radiation arrangement, which improves the acoustic performance over a wide range. frequency band and to also guarantee tightness and withstand under high external pressure of the watch case.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a musical or striking watch, which is provided with an acoustic radiation arrangement comprising the features defined in the independent claims 1 and 2.

Particular shapes of the musical or striking watch, which is provided with an acoustic radiation arrangement, are defined in the dependent claims 3 to 18.

An advantage of the musical or striking watch lies in the fact that with the acoustic radiation arrangement, it is possible to integrate a cavity in the watch case also with a background ice without risk of dirt. An effective vibro-acoustic coupling is thus obtained between the cavity and a vibrating element, especially radially in the watch case and preferably in the bottom.

Thanks to the arrangement with acoustic radiation, it is observed an optimization of the sound produced in particular by the bottom ice, when the watch is not worn on the wrist. In addition, it is found an optimization of the sound emitted by the bottom cavity through the side openings and this even when the watch is worn on the wrist.

An increase in the duration of the sound is still observed with the acoustic radiation arrangement. The acoustic quality factor is increased by the coupling between the support and connection piece and the background ice with mechanical degrees of freedom. In addition, a part of the noise generated by the mechanism is reduced by the anti-resonance phenomenon created by the vibro-acoustic coupling between the cavity and the support and connection piece.

With the support piece and connection of the arrangement, a seal is provided and this with the hidden part by the dressing or bezel of the bottom. The watch with the acoustic radiation arrangement can withstand high pressures, for example of the order of 3 bars.

With a background glass, it is possible to make visible the mechanical movement even in the presence of a resonance cavity. No dirt, which may enter the openings of the cavity, can be deposited on the inner surface of the bottom ice. The support and connection piece thus protects the ice from dirt while ensuring a good seal of the components arranged in the watch case.

• la figure 1 représente de manière simplifiée une coupe transversale d'une montre musicale ou à sonnerie, qui est munie d'un agencement à rayonnement acoustique selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente une vue tridimensionnelle en éclaté des éléments de l'agencement à rayonnement acoustique au niveau d'un fond de la boîte de montre selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 représente une coupe transversale en détail de l'agencement à rayonnement acoustique de la montre selon l'invention, et
• la figure 4 représente un graphe des réponses vibratoires fréquentielles d'un fond standard et d'un fond à couplage vibro-acoustique de la présente invention.

The purposes, advantages and characteristics of the musical or striking watch equipped with the acoustic radiation arrangement will appear better in the following description on the basis of at least one non-limiting embodiment illustrated by the drawings in which:

• the figure 1 represents in a simplified manner a cross-section of a musical or striking watch, which is provided with an acoustic radiation arrangement according to the invention,
• the figure 2 represents an exploded three-dimensional view of the elements of the acoustic radiation arrangement at a bottom of the watch case according to the invention,
• the figure 3 represents a detailed cross-section of the acoustic radiation arrangement of the watch according to the invention, and
• the figure 4 represents a graph of the frequency vibratory responses of a standard background and a vibro-acoustically coupled background of the present invention.

In the following description, reference is made mainly to the acoustic radiation arrangement of a musical watch or bell, which is arranged on the back side of the watch. However, it should be noted that such an arrangement with acoustic radiation can also be provided on the front side of the watch, that is to say on the viewing side of the time displayed as explained below.

The figure 1 represents a cross-section of a musical watch or bell 1. This watch includes a watch case, which consists mainly of a middle 7 and a bottom 2, and at least one front glass 16 above a watch dial to close the watch case. Preferably, the front lens 16 is attached to a bezel 17, which is connected sealingly to the upper mouth of the caseband 7. A watchmaker movement 10 with a musical mechanism or striking is placed in a sufficient space in the watch case . The watch further comprises an acoustic radiation arrangement, which can be realized in the bottom 2 of the watch case as explained below.

As it can be seen more precisely on figures 2 and 3 this acoustic radiation arrangement comprises a support and connection piece 5, which is fixed in the bottom 2 of the box. This piece of support and connection 5 is disposed between a bottom window 12 and a bottom window 6. The support and connection piece is composed of two rigid parts 5a, 5b, which are respectively held in contact with a wall interior of the bottom window 12 and a side surface or border of the bottom window 6.

These first and second rigid portions 5a and 5b may preferably be bonded on the one hand to an inner wall of the bottom window 12 and on the other hand to the bottom window 6. The first rigid part 5a may also be attached to the inner wall of the bottom bezel 12 by simple friction or be screwed. By against the ice 6 is not glued to the bottom opening of the bottom window 12 so as to allow a vibration of the ice 6 in a piston type vibration mode. The support and connection piece 5 is thus fixed to the bottom window 12 and to the window 6 while ensuring a good seal of the inside of the watch case.

The support and connection piece 5 further comprises an intermediate portion 5c, which is preferably flexible and very thin. This intermediate portion 5c connects the two rigid parts 5a and 5b. Preferably the parts 5a, 5b, 5c form a single piece made of the same material. However it can also be envisaged that the parts 5a, 5b and 5c are made separately and subsequently assembled to form the support part and connection 5. This flexible intermediate portion 5c allows the vibration of the bottom ice at low frequencies, if the musical or striking watch is not worn on the wrist of a user.

The bottom window 12 further comprises several lateral openings 3 for the passage of at least one sound generated by the musical mechanism or ringing. These lateral openings 3 are preferably oriented in the plane of the watch. It can be provided for example between 2 and 8 openings as shown in FIG. figure 2 , which are regularly distributed or spaced around the periphery of the bottom window 12. A cavity 4 is defined between the support and connection piece 5 and the openings 3 of the bottom window 12, which define outward lines of said acoustic cavity. Since the support and connection piece 5 is preferably made in the form of a ring, the annular cavity 4 is defined all around the support piece and connection 5 facing an inner surface of the bottom window 12.

In an alternative embodiment, the bottom window 12 may include a plurality of lateral openings 3 disposed on a sector of the bottom window. This sector may be smaller than or equal to half of the bottom window 12. In the case of a circular bottom bezel, the angular sector extends over a portion of the bottom bezel less than or equal to 180 °. The lateral openings 3 of the bottom telescope 12 can be oriented perpendicularly to the flexible intermediate part 5c, if this intermediate part is in the plane with the first rigid part 5a, or to the base plate 6.

It should also be noted that the thickness of the intermediate portion 5c depends on the material used for the support and connection piece 5. In the case of a support piece and connection 5 made in red gold and for a resonance frequency of the first clean mode at about 7'000 Hz, the thickness of the flexible intermediate portion 5c may be between 0.1 and 0.3 mm and preferably of the order of 0.14 mm. This piece of support and connection 5 can also be made of yellow or gray gold, platinum or metal glass. The more the flexible part 5c is fine, the lower the frequency of the first clean mode. The diameter of the support and connection piece 5 may be generally between 20 and 40 mm and corresponds approximately to the inside diameter of the bottom window 12.

As shown in more detail in figure 3 the intermediate part 5c is arranged in the same plane as the first rigid part 5a, and also parallel to the bottom plate 6. The first rigid part 5a is fixed on an inner edge and an inner wall of the bottom window 12 and partly in an upper portion of the cylindrical openings 3. On the other hand, the intermediate portion 5c is connected to a perpendicular portion of the second rigid portion 5b. Thus, the support piece and connection 5 provides a vibro-acoustic coupling between the acoustic cavity 4 and the part flexible intermediate 5c as a vibrating membrane in the shape of a circular crown.

It is also possible to provide that the intermediate portion 5c may be disposed in the same plane as the second rigid portion 5b and substantially perpendicular to the first rigid portion 5a of the support and connecting piece 5 or the bottom ice 6. It may also be provided a first portion of the intermediate portion 5c, which is disposed in the same plane as the first rigid portion 5a and a second portion, which is disposed in the same plane as the second rigid portion 5b.

The bottom bezel 12 further comprises a fastening edge 12a for attachment to the lower part of the caseband 7 as shown in FIG. figure 1 . Once the bottom bezel 12 fixed by its fastening edge 12a to the lower part of the middle part 7, the first rigid part 5a of the support and connection piece 5 is in direct contact with the middle part 7. The vibration of the middle part 7 thus directly vibrates the support part and connection 5 with its flexible intermediate portion 5c. This makes it possible to maximize the vibratory transfer between a vibration generator of the musical or striking mechanism and a radiating element, which may be the base ice 6 and / or the acoustic cavity 4.

It should also be noted that the axial and radial vibration of the support and connection piece 5 produces two effects. A first effect is the vibration of the bottom ice 6 according to piston-type vibration modes without deformation of said bottom ice. A second effect is the modulation of the volume of the acoustic cavity 4, one of whose walls is the flexible intermediate part 5c, which activates a resonance mode of said cavity 4. This mode of resonance of the cavity can be acoustically active with a radiation towards the outside of the watch through the openings 3, or acoustically inactive by acting as a shock absorber as a function of the frequency of the vibration.

With the acoustic radiation arrangement in the bottom 2, the actual modes of vibration and the acoustic modes, which are the waves of pressure, do not coincide with the individual modes of the support and connection piece 5 and the background glass 6. The actual modes of vibration and the acoustic modes also do not coincide with the purely acoustic modes of the cavity 4. The modes Coupled with a main vibration contribution occur as sound damping modes, while modes having a main contribution of sound pressure modulation intervene as amplified radiation modes.

In the figure 4 a comparison of the frequency vibratory responses of a standard background and a vibro-acoustically coupled background with the acoustic radiation arrangement is shown. This acoustic radiation arrangement is optimized as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3 . The support and connection piece 5 of the acoustic radiation arrangement can be made of red gold.

In the case of a standard bottom according to the curve b, the axial acceleration of the bottom ice has only two resonances. The frequency of the first resonance is at 8 kHz. On the other hand, in the case of the vibroacoustic coupling back of the invention according to curve a, the frequency of the first resonance is reduced by approximately 1 kHz to be at 7 kHz. The quality factor is increased with a reduced peak width, which corresponds to a significant increase in the duration of the vibration, and therefore the sound generated. According to the curve a of the vibro-acoustic coupling of the invention, there is still an anti-resonance, that is to say a local minimum, which is introduced at about 15 kHz. This allows the removal of the noise components of the mechanism, which are present in this frequency range.

It should be noted that thanks to the acoustic radiation arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3 , the dirt, which can enter through the side openings 3 of the cavity 4, can not be deposited on the inner surface of the bottom window 6. The support piece and connection 5 protects completely the bottom ice of any dirt coming from the outside and guarantees the tightness of the inside of the box of watch.

With the background glass 6, it is possible to make the movement 10 visible in the watch case. This property is generally difficult to obtain for an active background and acoustically optimized with a resonance cavity.

According to an alternative embodiment, the lateral openings 3 of the acoustic cavity 4 may be partially closed by membranes with small holes. The small holes of these membranes allow the passage of air while protecting the interior of the cavity from the accumulation of dirt.

To achieve the acoustic radiation arrangement presented to Figures 1 to 3 in the bottom 2 of the watch case, the materials envisaged are preferably metallic materials or metallic glasses. It may be gray, yellow or red gold for the base telescope 12, gray, yellow or red gold, platinum and metallic glasses for the support and connection piece 5.

The acoustic radiation arrangement can also be made on the ice side 16 of the watch 1 shown in FIG. figure 1 . In this case, the support and connection piece is connected between the upper part of the middle part 7 or the bezel 17 and the front glass 16. Lateral openings may also be provided between the caseband 7 or the bezel 17 and the piece of support and connection 5. An annular cavity 4 is formed between the support and connection piece and the openings of the middle part 7 or the bezel 17. A first rigid part 5a can be fixed to an inner wall of the middle part or the bezel, while a second rigid portion 5b can be attached to a side or edge surface of the lens 16. The intermediate portion 5c can be configured and arranged with respect to the rigid portions 5a and 5b as specified with reference to the Figures 1 to 3 .

It should also be noted that the lateral openings 3 of the middle part 7 or the bezel 17 can also be distributed over a sector of the middle part 7 or of the telescope 17. This sector may be smaller than or equal to half the circumference of the caseband 7 or the bezel 17. The lateral openings 3 of the caseband 7 or the bezel 17 may be oriented perpendicularly to the ice 16.

From the description that has just been given, several variants of a musical watch or ringtone or musical having an acoustic radiation arrangement can be designed by the skilled person without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims. An acoustic radiation arrangement may be provided on the bottom side of the watch case and the front ice side of the watch. The lateral openings may be of different dimensions and of different shape from the cylindrical shape. The flexible intermediate portion, which is annular may have a corrugation. The support and connection piece can be obtained by molding or stamping a preform. One or more acoustic membranes may still be provided between the musical or striking mechanism and the acoustic radiation arrangement.

Claims (18)

1. Musical or striking watch (1), which is provided with an acoustic radiation arrangement, the watch including a watch case (2, 7) formed at least of a case middle (7) and a back cover (2) removably secured to the case middle and at least a front crystal (16) for closing said case,
   characterized in that the acoustic radiation arrangement includes a connecting support part (5) fixed in the back cover of the case between a back bezel (12) and a back crystal (6), in that the back bezel (12) includes several lateral openings (3), and in that a cavity (4) is defined between the connecting support part (5) and the lateral openings (3) of the back crystal.
2. Musical or striking watch (1), which is provided with an acoustic radiation arrangement, the watch including a watch case (2, 7) formed at least of a case middle (7) and a back cover (2) removably secured to the case middle and at least one crystal (16) for closing said case,
   characterized in that the acoustic radiation arrangement includes a connecting support part (5) fixed in case between the case middle (7) or a bezel (17) and the crystal (16), in that the case middle (7) or the bezel (17) includes several lateral openings (3), and in that a cavity (4) is defined between the connecting support part (5) and the lateral openings (3) in the case middle or the bezel.
3. Musical or striking watch (1) according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the connecting support part (5) is of annular shape and includes two rigid portions (5a, 5b) and a flexible intermediate portion (5c) between the two rigid portions.
4. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting support part (5), which includes the two rigid portions (5a, 5b) and the flexible intermediate portion (5c), is made in one piece.
5. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the material of the connecting support part (5) is selected among gold, platinum or a metallic glass, and in that the thickness of the flexible intermediate portion (5c) is comprised between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm, preferably on the order of 0.14 mm.
6. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a first rigid portion (5a) is fixed to an inner wall of the back bezel (12), and in that a second rigid portion (5b) is fixed to a lateral or edge surface of the back crystal (6), the connecting support part (5) ensuring the sealing of the watch case interior.
7. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a first rigid portion (5a) is fixed to an inner wall of the case middle (7) or of the bezel (17), and in that a second rigid portion (5b) is fixed to a lateral or edge surface of the crystal (16), the connecting support part (5) ensuring the sealing of the interior of the watch case.
8. Musical or striking watch (1) according to any of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the flexible intermediate portion (5c) is arranged in the same plane as the first rigid portion (5a) and substantially perpendicular to the second rigid portion (5b) of the connecting support part (5).
9. Musical or striking watch (1) according to any of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the flexible intermediate portion (5c) is arranged in the same plane as the second rigid portion (5b) and substantially perpendicular to the first rigid portion (5a) of the connecting support part (5).
10. Musical or striking watch (1) according to any of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the flexible intermediate portion (5c) includes a first part arranged in the same plane as the first rigid portion (5a) and a second part arranged in the same plane as the second rigid portion (5b).
11. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity (4), which is defined between the connecting support part (5) and the lateral openings (3) in the back bezel (12), is annular.
12. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cavity (4), which is defined between the connecting support part (5) and the lateral openings (3) in the case middle (7) or the bezel (17), is annular.
13. Musical or striking watch (1) according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the lateral openings (3) are oriented in the plane of the watch.
14. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the lateral openings (3) in the back bezel (12) are oriented perpendicularly to the flexible intermediate portion (5c).
15. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the lateral openings (3) in the middle part (7) or in the bezel (17) are oriented perpendicularly to the flexible intermediate portion (5c).
16. Musical or striking watch (1) according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the number of lateral openings (3) is comprised between 2 and 8, and in that the lateral openings (3) are regularly spaced from each other.
17. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral openings (3) are distributed over a sector of the back bezel (12) that is less than or equal to half the back bezel (12).
18. Musical or striking watch (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the lateral openings (3) are distributed over a sector of the case middle (7) or of the bezel (17) that is less than or equal to half the periphery of the case middle (7) or of the bezel (17).

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